In today's fast-paced, competitive society, looks are more important than ever. An employer isn't allowed to ask your age, but in some cases they don't have to. Wrinkles and sagging skin tells them all they need to know. Maybe that's one of the reasons why younger and younger patients are requesting minimal incision facial surgery.

Minimal-incision facial surgery can make your face look as young as you feel. A forehead lift or browlift can smooth out your wrinkles and correct drooping brows and heavy lids to provide a younger, friendlier appearance. A mid-facelift or cheek lift can remove facial wrinkles and lift sagging cheeks, while a necklift can tighten loose, sagging skin under your chin. These procedures can be performed alone, in combination with laser resurfacing, or as part of a full facelift.

What is Minimal-lncision Facial Surgery

Minimal-incision or endoscopic surgery is performed using a tiny fiber optic lens inserted through half-inch incisions placed inconspicuously in your skin. The lens is attached to a camera, which is connected to a television, allowing for visualization of the surgery. Additional half-inch incisions are made for the insertion of tiny scalpels, scissors and retractors. Your surgeon performs the procedure while viewing the television monitor and manipulating the tiny instruments externally. Minimal incision surgery is particularly useful with younger patients, where the removal of excess skin is not required.

Which procedure is for me?

During your initial cosmetic consultation, your doctor will discuss your goals for the surgery and explain your probable outcome of treatment. Your doctor will also help you to decide which surgical approach will best meet your cosmetic goals: an individual procedure or a combination of procedures. You will be shown several before and after treatment photographs of patients having similar conditions, and we will explain the treatment you can expect to receive. Before and after photos may be taken of your area to be treated to document your results.

What will recovery be like?

There is a minimal amount of discomfort following your procedure. There will be swelling and bruising that may last from seven to ten days. For some patients, this may include the cheeks and eyelids. Keeping your head elevated and applying cold compresses will help to reduce swelling. As your incisions heal, you will notice some itching and possibly some numbness. These symptoms will diminish over time. You may wear make-up after three days, and your sutures will be removed in seven to ten days. Strenuous activity is restricted for six weeks.

Find out if you are candidate for Minimal-lncision Facial Surgery. Call our office to schedule your private consultation.

The procedures:

A browlift can tighten loose skin, remove excess forehead wrinkles and correct drooping eyelids. It is performed as an outpatient procedure under local anesthesia with deep sedation, or general anesthesia, and can take from 1 to 2 hours. Since a browlift can significantly reduce the frown lines between the eyes, it is frequently performed in conjunction with upper and/or lower eyelid surgery to achieve optimal results.

A mid-facelift can significantly reduce wrinkles, sagging skin or a depressed appearance in the cheeks. It can be performed as an outpatient procedure under local anesthesia with deep sedation, or general anesthesia, and may take from 1 to 2 hours. With a minimal incision mid-facelift, hair and sensation loss at the incision site are minimized. A mid-facelift is frequently performed in conjunction with eyelid surgery, a browlift or facial implants to achieve optimal results.

The necklift is performed to significantly reduce the appearance of sagging skin under the jaw. It may be performed as an outpatient procedure using local anesthesia with deep sedation, or general anesthesia, and may take from 1 to 1 1/2 hours. With a minimal incision necklift, loss of sensation at the incision site is minimized. A necklift is frequently performed in conjunction with a mid-facelift or facial implants to achieve optimal results.

What are the benefits of Minimal-lncision Facial Surgery?